Over the last few years, the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) has seen some substantial growth in part due to their partnership with the NBA. That growth has led elite high school prospects like RJ Hampton and most recently LaMelo Ball to join the league and starting next season, NBL primetime NBL games will be broadcast on ESPN, the league announced on Tuesday.
Here’s the official statement NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman:
This broadcast agreement with ESPN is a quantum leap forward in the coverage of the NBL and basketball across Australia.
It maintains our commitment to make the game available to more people to watch when and how they choose across different platforms and will continue to grow our audience across Australia. Partnering with ESPN, the home of the NBA in Australia, brings more global credibility to the NBL as we attract bigger stars to what is now considered one of the best leagues in the world outside of the NBA.
The games will start airing on Oct. 3, when Melbourne United and South East Phoenix go head-to-head in the season opener. It’s also likely that Ball’s debut for the Hawks on Oct. 6 will be aired. ESPN will air a total of 59 regular-season and playoff games.
Not only is this fantastic news for the NBL, who are becoming a legitimate threat to the NCAA, but it’s also great news for Ball. Part of the appeal in going to college for Ball was getting the exposure that players get from having their games broadcast nationally. Now, Ball will have that same exposure in addition to the benefit of playing against more mature competition and getting paid for it.
While his draft stock will depend on how he performs in the NBL, he’ll have every opportunity to show he’s worthy of a lottery pick in 2020.
